Indian added a small-capacity V-twin to its range in 1920, the 37 CI (600cc) Scout, which joined the Powerplus (61 CI/1,000cc). It wasn’t until 1927 that the full 45 CI (750cc) Scout appeared, and the following year witnessed the debut of the immortal 101 Scout. The 101 was designed by Charles B. Franklin, an Irish road-racer and Indian dealer from the earliest days of the factory, who led Indian to its greatest foreign victory in 1911 when the team of riders—including Franklin—made a 1-2-3 victory in the Isle of Man TT. The 101 Scout had a totally new 750cc side-valve engine in a full-cradle, longer-wheelbase frame, and was a huge seller. Indian, common with the rest of the motorcycle industry and the country, hit hard times with the great Wall Street crash of 1929 and nearly went bankrupt. Being long-time fans and riders of the marque, the DuPont family had considerable investments in Indian, and in 1930 they purchased the firm, revising the model line to improve sales.

The DuPonts hoped less-expensive models would sell, and in 1932, a smaller Scout was introduced: the Scout Pony. It featured a 30.5 CI (500cc) side-valve V-twin motor in the frame, forks and sheet metal of the single-cylinder 350cc Prince model, while also making use of the single’s clutch and gearbox. With a compact look from the small V-twin motor stuffed in the even smaller chassis, the Scout Pony had great lines and was priced at $225, which made it the cheapest American V-twin on the market. It came complete with footboards and a foot clutch, although one could order a sports version with footrests and a hand clutch—“English style.” For an extra $5, one could order any color combination from the DuPont color deck, in common with the rest of the model range. Indian lured buyers with the low price. "Now you can have the machine you've been waiting for—a real twin-cylinder machine at the lowest price in American history – and it's an Indian, of course!" By 1935 the name for this model was changed to the Junior Scout, and finally to the Thirty-Fifty, which lasted through 1941.

This 1937 Indian Junior Scout is an extremely rare, original-paint machine, with matching engine and frame numbers. It has been mechanically restored with a rebuilt motor, carburetor, transmission and generator, as well as restored wheels and a new exhaust system. Like all Junior Scouts, the bike starts easily and runs beautifully, with terrific, nimble handling: a super-rare survivor.

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Information found on the website is presented as advance information for the auction lot. Photos, materials for videos, descriptions and other information are provided by the consignor/seller and is deemed reliable, but Mecum Auction does not verify, warrant or guarantee this information. The lot and information presented at auction on the auction block supersedes any previous descriptions or information. Mecum is not responsible for information that may be changed or updated prior to the auction. The decision to purchase should be based solely on the buyers personal inspection of the lot at the auction site prior to the auction.

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